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Music for a cause
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It was an enjoyable evening of fusion music. A report on Sraddha, organised by The Shakti Foundation.
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"ANYONE WHO met Velan was inspired by him. He always endeavoured to lead as normal a life as he could." Those words of film and ad film-maker Rajeev Menon summed up Sraddha, an evening of music, organised by The Shakti Foundation at the Music Academy. Velan, a victim of muscular dystrophy founded Shakti Foundation in order to integrate the disabled into the social mainstream. His mother Vasant Raghuvir carries forward his dream.
The evening began on a traditional note with a prayer by school children. The screening of a short film by Menon, featuring cricketer Anil Kumble, followed. Talking about the Foundation, which has been working relentlessly for the uplift of the disabled, Menon hoped that people would become a little more sensitive to the needs of the unfortunate lot.
The chief guest, Javed Abidi, executive director, National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People, said that despite the Disability Act in place by 1995, many buildings across the country are still disabled-unfriendly. He hoped the builders would bear the disabled in mind while constructing new buildings. The proceeds of the event, the 11th successive fundraiser, will go towards purchase of several medical equipment.
And finally the show... There was rhythm and melody. The "master of the mandolin" U. Shrinivas, singer Shankar Mahadevan, keyboard player Loy Mendonca and ace drummer Sivamani created some innovative music, fusion of course.
Carnatic ragas blended with jazz touches and contemporary beats. The musicians opened the concert with an invocation in Hamsadhwani. What followed essentially was a three-way jugalbandi of sorts, between Shrinivas, Shankar and Sivamani.
That Shrinivas is a virtuoso and has absolute control over his instrument is common knowledge. But what was a revelation was Shankar's vocal range in a classical mode. He is as comfortable in the lower octaves as he is in the higher pitch. And the `duets' were simply scintillating.
As for Sivamani, nobody innovates like he does. He can create a rhythmic pattern from practically anything, be it a cycle bell or a ghungroo. In his 'tani avartanam', he took the audience from Punjab with robust bhangra to New York (rock, jazz) to Thanjavur's auspicious thavil beats. His playing could have drowned the others but he was subdued and played the accompanist to the hilt.
Loy (of the Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy fame) displayed his skill with adroit playing on the keyboard with a jazz composition, which incidentally showcased Shrinivas' ability to play the blues.
The bhajans "Raghupathi Raghava" and "Shankara" were apt inclusions. The curtains were brought down with Michael Jackson's "Heal The World", the theme song of the Shakti Foundation.
SAVITHA GAUTAM
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